Elon Musk, the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, made headlines on Sunday when he took to his platform to criticize Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government for what he calls an assault on free speech.
Trudeau is trying to crush free speech in Canada. Shameful. https://t.co/oHFFvyBGxu
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2023
“Trudeau is trying to crush free speech in Canada,” Musk posted on X, expressing his disapproval. This statement from the tech magnate was in response to a tweet from American journalist Glenn Greenwald, who had written about the Canadian government’s recent move.
Greenwald’s tweet highlighted the Canadian government’s implementation of what he termed “one of the world’s most repressive online censorship schemes.” The government announced that all “online streaming services that offer podcasts” must register with them, a step aimed at enabling censorship.
To back up his claims, Greenwald shared a screenshot and provided a link to the Canadian government’s official website, where details of a “regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework” can be found. The government’s stated objective is to ensure that online streaming services contribute to Canadian and Indigenous content.
Under the newly proposed regulations, these rules will primarily apply to individuals or entities generating revenue exceeding $10,000,000. This development in Canadian online censorship coincides with Musk’s criticism of Biden and the growing border crisis.
President Joe Biden recently took aim at Elon Musk’s platform, blaming him for what he perceived as an increase in ‘misinformation’ since Musk acquired X. During a discussion on the matter, President Biden asked, “Where do people get their news?” He emphasized the challenge of discerning the truth in an era of growing online information.
In this ongoing debate, both the actions of the Canadian government and the reactions of prominent figures like Elon Musk and President Biden have ignited discussions surrounding the balance between free expression and the regulation of online content.
The current situation in Canada serves as a harsh reminder of the nation’s totalitarian attempt to assert authority over online content. The silver lining is it has inspired a wide range of voices including tech magnates to political figures to chime in against the Canadian government and its bold attempt to permanently obliterate free speech.
